Family, Friends Mourn Death Of Pompano Firefighter After Fall

POMPANO BEACH (CBS4) – Colleagues, family and friends are mourning the death of a Pompano Beach firefighter who fell to his death Friday afternoon after falling off a 100-foot ladder during a climbing exercise.

The firefighter, William Elliott, a member of the department since 1989, died at North Broward Medical Center. Fire Chief Harry Small said the hearts of his men and women are broken.

"It's a death in our family," he said. "And we're suffering. It's tough."

Elliott was a respected firefighter, his colleagues said.

"As one of his officers, going into work on a day that he was there you knew you were going to have a safe day," said Lt. Joe Rogers. "It's just a sad time for everybody."

Friend Amy Dosher said Elliott was an avid outdoorsman.

"I can definitely say that one of the best days I've ever had in the state of Florida (was when) Bill had us out on his airboat and it was just phenomenal," she said.

Memories of better times was what friends shared with CBS4's Tiffani Helberg at Rattlesnake Jakes in Pompano Beach, one of Elliott's favorite hangouts.

"This guy was special really nice," friend Bill Popfinger said. "Never, I don't think, he swore. He was just one of those people that was exceptional… always helped you if you needed a hand. He was a great guy."

Small said his firefighters train often on the ladders, making sure they are confident going up and down when simulating a high stress situation.

"They were doing an exercise that he'd done 100 times," Small told reporters. "We don't know exactly what happened up there he was one of the most skilled people and responsible people we know."

The chief said all safety regulations were followed. He said Elliott was using a harness during the ladder climb but as trained, he unhooked to come down the ladder. He was near the top of the ladder when he fell.

As Elliott's friends, family and co-workers consoled each other his body was driven in a Pompano Beach Fire Rescue Truck in a caravan to the Broward Medical Examiner's Office.

Pompano Beach Mayor Lamar Fisher said Elliott will be missed.

"(He was) so kind and so patient especially with our residents when he would go on a rescue call," Fisher said. "Everybody just loved and respected him. Just a tragic, tragic thing."

Fire investigators are trying to figure out what went wrong.

Friends  said news of his death might have caused his mother to have a heart attack. Now those who loved Elliott are dealing with a double does of pain.

Elliott leaves behind his parents, a brother and a sister. Fisher said Elliott's brother-in-law works for the Boca Raton Fire Department.

'You feel for the family, the brother, the mother right now," friend Scott Hall said. "You know, I hope his mother is alright."

City leaders said this is the first time a Pompano Beach firefighter died on duty.

For a tight knit group of men and women who work to save lives they were left to grieve the loss of one of their own.

"We enjoy our job and it takes your heart and soul and one man just left his," Rogers said.

Funeral plans for Elliott are being made. Fisher said the challenge will be finding a venue large enough to hold all the people who want to say goodbye to Elliott.

In the meantime, family and friends are hoping that his mother will pull through during this tough situation.

"I heard we need to pray for her and hope everybody has a speedy recovery to get over this big loss." Popfinger said.